Muslim Fulani herdsmen have become heavily armed in recent years. (File photo)

VOP Note: Earlier this year, concerns were raised that the Fulani could be the greatest threat to Nigerian Christians and the security of Nigeria as a whole. Church leaders say attacks on Christian communities by the herdsmen constitute “a war by Islam to eliminate Christianity” in Nigeria. Last year, President Muhammadu Buhari was elected for his promises to stop the murderous onslaughts by ‘terrorists’ and bring peace back to Nigeria. But a year later, many Nigerians have expressed their disappointment and distrust towards their new president. He’s now being accused of turning a blind eye to the Fulani attacks. Buhari comes from the Katsina State of Daura and is of the Fulani ethnic group.

(World Watch Monitor) In Waku, Benue State, one of the numerous villages in Nigeria’s ‘Middle Belt’ displaced by Hausa-Fulani Muslim herdsmen, on 18 August a small frightened calf was tied to a stake by a group of Christian villagers. The angry mob was waiting for the arrival of its owners, herdsmen who’d destroyed a farm belonging to a Christian, shortly before he could harvest his produce. It was a strategy that could subdue the herdsmen, who have a traditional sentimental attachment to the protection of tender calves: they would come to pick it up. Sure enough, within hours, the herdsmen who owned the calf arrived; and if not for the intervention of some community elders, the angry mob would have attacked the herdsmen. A local war and violent conflict was suspended but not averted.

These kind of incidents are very common, as the Hausa-Fulani Muslim herdsmen’s attacks continue unabated across central, and now into southern, Nigeria. The reasons for the continuity of these attacks are not far-fetched. At the height of the Boko Haram violent conflict in 2011, the Hausa-Fulani Muslim herdsmen took advantage of the ‘conflict environment’ to launch attacks against Christian communities, particularly in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria, with the purpose of conquering the territory.

Shortly before the 2015 general elections, these herdsmen’s attacks increased tremendously, affecting some of the north central states, especially Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kaduna. Over the past five years, official figures* show that thousands of Christians have been killed and at least a million others displaced. The intervention of the Nigerian government has been slow and haphazard.

In mid-August, the Federal Minister for Agriculture reiterated the need to frame a government policy on the establishment of grazing areas for Fulani herdsmen. Joint meetings between government officials and community elders were held in states such as Benue, Taraba, Kaduna and Plateau – followed by the issuance of communiques calling for more consultation. In Plateau State, which is majority Christian, this prompted a call by the Christian Association of Nigeria against the Federal Reserves’ Grazing Bill that 11 states are said to have agreed to.

However, no attempt was made to address key issues. No herdsmen were held accountable for the atrocities already committed; there was no discussion of prosecution for perpetrators, nor of compensation, nor provision of security for victims. Many communities were left displaced and fearful, without any security. At one point, the government blamed not the herdsmen but displaced Boko Haram fighters, both local and foreign, effectively undermining the reality of attacks perpetrated by the herdsmen against indigenous Christian communities.

This lukewarm attitude of the government means that the conflict has been downplayed and neglected. Equally, national State attention has shifted to the resettlement of Boko Haram victims and, as such, Fulani herdsmen continue to attack unprotected communities with impunity:

21 Aug: Three Christians killed, including Pastor Luka Ubangari of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), in Anguwan Anjo, Godogodo. Said to have been ambushed and shot during a pastoral visit to Golkofa, a local neighbourhood.

8 Sep: Christian farmer Aondoaka Maka killed at Antsongo Akiki in Jatau village, Bornon Kurkur, Bali LGA, Taraba. Herdsmen destroyed Maka’s farm produce and fed it to their cows. With no authority to appeal to, Maka confronted them and was butchered to death.

Away from the Middle Belt, Fulani attacks have spread from the Middle Belt to the south of Nigeria, a much more strongly Christian area:

25 Aug: Over 50 Fulani herdsmen armed with AK-47 and machetes attacked the community of Ndiagu, Attakwu, Akegbe-Ugwu in Nkanu-West LGA of Enugu state. They beheaded a Catholic seminarian, Lazarus Nwafor, slit open the stomach of a pregnant Christian woman, Mrs Ogbodo Nwarum, and injured several other people.

The consistency of these attacks, including lack of security and government attention, has forced many communities and states to find ways of protecting themselves. For instance, states such as Ekiti, Taraba, Plateau and Benue have rejected the policy of the government to impose grazing areas for Fulani herdsmen because, they say, the herdsmen do not run institutions bound by laws and regulations. They are therefore incapable of enforcing any joint community agreements regarding these grazing fields.

Importantly, in cases where herdsmen have been allocated the most fertile land belonging to farmers who depend on that land, it motivates more herdsmen to carry out attacks, giving legitimacy to their demands, and encourages other movements to adopt violence in securing their requests from the government.

In Benue State, an indigenous group called the Movement Against Fulani Occupation (MAFO) was formed a few years ago. MAFO is a non-violent group committed to creating awareness of the atrocities of the Hausa-Fulani Muslim herdsmen in Benue and beyond. Furthermore, it is intended to influence government policy on preventing Fulani herdsmen from occupying land belonging to indigenous communities. Importantly, it also wants to draw the attention of the international community to the atrocities perpetrated by the herdsmen.

Despite these indigenous efforts, the atrocities of the Hausa-Fulani Muslim herdsmen against Christian communities continue in both central and southern Nigeria. Public opinion among the victims suggests that, as the dominance of Islam continues to grow under the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, there seems to be a conspiracy to take over Christian territories. At the moment, many local communities are without protection. Their farm produce has been destroyed, and houses and farmland taken over by the Fulani herdsmen. One way or another, victims will be forced to arm and defend themselves. Without concrete government intervention, the conflict can only be delayed; the atrocities won’t stop.

*Benue State Emergency Management Agency 2014 Report on Internally Displaced People, seen by World Watch Monitor.

Atta Barkindo has almost finished a PhD at SOAS, University of London, UK. This article is based on his recent travels through the Middle Belt states of Nigeria, when he met eyewitnesses of the attacks he refers to. He’s also recently published an article on Boko Haram for the African Research Institute’s ‘Counterpoint’.

Voice of the Persecuted is on the ground in Nigeria to care for our Christian brothers and sisters experiencing brutal persecution.

We are committed to being a VOICE for persecuted Nigerian Christians and bring them comfort, relief, and encouragement. We have committed to a long-term mission in Nigeria. When they are able to return home, we will be there to encourage and help rebuild villages and their lives. They will not be forgotten!

We want you to know that even in great hardship, they thank God and feel extremely blessed that He has kept His hand on them. They have been so encouraged and thank God for each one of you who have joined this mission through prayer and your support.

Together with your generous help, we can reach the goal to alleviate horrific suffering. In darkness and desperation, let us serve in love, with open arms and giving hands to provide light and hope.

HELP SAVE THE PERSECUTED

Every day, we thank God that He is working through you to care for His children and to further His Kingdom! As you greatly bless others, may God continue to bless you. Thank you so much for your support. We couldn’t do it without you!
You may also send your gift to:

2740 Third St
P.O. Box 122
Trenton, MI. 48183

If the Lord is placing it on your heart and you are able, please help us to continue the mission in Nigeria. It will be a long term project. Donations always desperately needed

(Voice of the Persecuted) In faith, we know GOD has amazing plans for us for His Kingdom purposes. He’s on the move! Today, let’s us…

CONTACT US- voice4thepersecuted@gmail.com

Terms of use – All rights reserved.

The use of any material or its part from this website and quoting in mass media requires appropriate credit and a link to the Voice of the Persecuted page where the information was taken.

The articles and replies from commenters published on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors, or that of Voice of the Persecuted, or of other contributing authors on this site. Voice of the Persecuted also reserves the right not to publish replies to articles should they so choose.

FAIR USE NOTICE:

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of persecution, religious freedom, freedom of worship, human rights and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

CONTENT DISCLAIMER

The views and opinions expressed in the media, articles or comments on this site are those of the speakers or authors and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by the Editors, Voice of the Persecuted, or of other contributing authors on this site.

The editorial staff oversee and administer the site pursuant to our editorial criteria. However, due to the social nature of this site, Voice of the Persecuted cannot be held accountable for the content in the web community.

Voice of the Persecuted strives to bring you truthful, accurate news reports and information. However, we do not warrant the accuracy, timeliness or completeness of the information obtained by outside links, authors, or comments added by our audience. If you have a complaint about something you have found on this web site, please contact us.

Note:

VOP is endorsed by the State of Michigan. 501(c) 3 status for Voice of the Persecuted Inc. has not yet been received. You will be notified of exemption approval.
Thank you for supporting the work of our organization through this process. For more information, please contact us at info@voiceofthepersecuted.org